Delusions of Gender, By Cordelia Fine

There's more to it than sugar and spice or slugs and snails

In this fascinating study of "the real science behind sex differences", the psychologist and neuroscientist Dr Cordelia Fine argues convincingly that everything we once thought is wrong.

Dense with research, and backed up by extensive footnotes (which are, slightly annoyingly, all at the back), it debunks bad science and shows how gender stereotypes and gender behaviour are mutually reinforcing to an alarming degree. Girls do measurably worse in maths tests, for example, when they are told that boys do better. The hard data is illuminating, and engaging, but Fine manages a light touch throughout. This is a truly startling book.